Page 68 of Private Exhibit
The doctor held up his hands, eyeing Andy strangely, then hurried away, muttering, “Prick.”
He's right, Junior bit off.You are a prick.
Don't you dare talk to me that way, young man, Andy fumed, clenching his jaw to keep himself from speaking out loud again.I am still your father.
Junior snorted a laugh.Yeah. Some father. You spent way more of my life being my doctor than being any kind of dad.He threw his arms out to his sides, gesturing at the room.
I didn't have a choice.
Yes, you did. You could have just hung out with me. Spent time with me.
I did spend time with you–
Yeah, in here. You spent my whole life putting me through scanners and tests and blood work! Maybe I just wanted a dad. Did you ever think about that?
I was trying to save your life!
You robbed me of my life!
“And you robbed me of mine!” Andy yelled.
Junior's eyes went wide.
Andy felt his heart sink the moment the words came out, regretting them instantly.Junior, wait. Kid? I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.
Junior's lower lip trembled.Yes, you did.
Junior–
I get it. You didn't wanna get saddled with a dying kid. I ruined all your plans. Hells, how many times did I hear you say you never wanted to be a doctor in the first place? It was all my fault–
Junior, Andy gasped. He shook his head.No. It wasn't your fault. Andy braced himself, trying to decide if he could admit that Lydia had known she was a carrier, but he'd been keeping that secret for so long, he wasn't sure he could actually say it now. He couldn't bear the thought of his son finding out that truth. It had been a delicate thing, dancing around it for years. It was well known that Ashworth-Grahams was genetic, so Junior knew he'd gotten it from her.
But he still didn't know that she'd intentionally had him, knowing he was going to die.
Junior–
Fuck you!
With that, Junior vanished.
Andy bent double, bracing his hands on his knees.
In the next moment, he found himself on the floor, gasping for breath as tears streamed down his cheeks.Gods damn it all. He knew Junior was right. Andy had robbed the boy of his life, constantly putting him through tests instead of enjoying what time they had.
And Andy knew he was about to do it all over again with Devon. It was the only reason he was there. Finding a cure hadn't mattered over the past four years, but it mattered now. How could he live with himself if he didn't do everything in his power to try saving him?
But could he do thatandgive Devon any kind of a life in the meantime?
Andy shook his head. He wasn't sure. What if he found nothing and wasted Devon's last days with exams? What if he didn't do enough, then found a cure after it was too late?
What the hells was he supposed to do?
Another knock sounded on the door.
“What?” Andy yelled.
The door slowly opened, and a nurse peeked into the room. “Sorry to bother you, Doctor Gerard. Someone said they saw you up here–”
